There is a very strong contingent in horror fiction who
maintains that
many of Burke's later works should be nominated in that field
rather
than mystery. This hue and cry originated with CONFEDERATE
DEAD, and
includes CIMARRON ROSE due to the protagonists conversations
with L.Q.
Navarro. With ROSE at least, I believe that Burke is pulling
a Henry
James, using ambiguity to define the manifestation of either
crushing
guilt or actual supernatural occurrence. CONFEDERATE DEAD is
somewhat
similar -- Robicheaux either talks to a ghost, or suffers
drug-induced
flashbacks.
I found ROSE to be better than the last two Robicheaux
novels, but
perhaps not Edgar quality. So what. Remember, this is the
committee who
gave an award to BIMBOS OF THE DEATH SUN. A couple of years
later, Mary
Willis Walker won for THE RED SCREAM, then wasn't even
nominated the
next year for the far superior IN THE BEETLE'S CELLAR.
... Reed Andrus
Phoenix, AZ (rising)
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